“One hundred and twenty Azerbaijani peacekeepers, who performed their duties at the Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan, were withdrawn from the country,” according to the Defense Ministry statement.
The peacekeepers, along with their weapons and military equipment, have been airlifted to Ankara.
The Azerbaijani peacekeepers, along with Turkish forces, ensured security at the Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport.
The ministry added that the Azerbaijani servicemen will return to their homeland “soon.”
Azerbaijan had dispatched a platoon to take part in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in November 2002 to contribute to peace, security, and order in Afghanistan.
Azerbaijan’s peacekeeping forces have remained stationed in Afghanistan ever since.
The Taliban takeover of Kabul on Aug. 15 set off a wave of evacuations via the Kabul airport, with a Taliban deadline of Aug. 31 to complete the evacuations looming.
Yeni Safak